Novel Peptide in Nasal Spray Form Developed for Protection Against Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s

A novel peptide boosts the brain's natural mechanism to help prevent seizures and shield neurons in research prototypes of epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease, scientists recently reported.

As indicated in a EurekAlert! report, specifically, the A1R-CT peptide the scientists developed, which can be done through a nasal spray, holds the potential for tamping down the uncontrolled electrical activity that's typical following traumatic brain injury or stroke and which impacts more than half of people who have Alzheimer's explained neuropharmacologist Dr. Qin Wang, who's also founding director of the Program for Alzheimer's Therapeutics Discovery at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.

The fact that the peptide can be delivered through the nose specifies the potential of the peptide as a new seizure rescue treatment as well, to help disrupt, for instance, a seizure cluster, where disabling seizures are arising back-to-back, Wang, corresponding author of the study explained.

A1R-CT Peptide

The A1R-CT works by inhibiting neurabin, a protein that helps to guarantee that the protective mechanism is tamping down the hyperexcitability of neurons, disrupting normal communication, producing seizures, and not overdoing.

In their study published in the JCI Insight journal, "the peptide was named after the protective 1 receptor on the surface of the neurons," which is getting stimulated by adenosine, a chemical made mostly in the brain by glial-supporting cells, in reaction to hyperexcitability.

Wang explained this is a strong receptor to silence the neurons then. This natural, calming association also blocks electrical activity, which can lead to an irregular heartbeat.

In fact, adenosine in injectable form is used to treat at an extremely high rate. Nonetheless, Wang explained that the A1 receptor should be controlled since if it is extremely activated, one will fall asleep.

Protection Against Seizures and Alzheimer's

The neurons try to ensure everything stays in control, and "in most of us," added the neuropharmacologist, it's working pretty well.

One doesn't fall asleep at his desk. He doesn't have seizures; she continued explaining that nothing that caffeine is blocking the A1 receptor.

Alzheimer's is frequently accompanied by seizures since the characteristic buildup of the proteins amyloid ad tau in the brain disrupts communication between neurons, develops increased oxidative stress and resulting inflammation, and in response to the altered dynamic, neurons can turn hyperexcited, she said.

In Alzheimer's disease, there are lots of things that go wrong, continued explained Wang. She also said that Seizures could forego the cognitive drop in Alzheimer's and add to it.

Nasal Spray Delivery

The researchers chose to look at the delivery of nasal spray to explore the potential clinical benefit of the peptide thoroughly. They discovered a similarly strong response in both the Alzheimer's and seizure models.

Looking further at the effect of targeting neurabin, they discovered that mice with a neurabin deficiency had substantially shorter, less severe seizures, and they all survived.

Those with intact normal neurabin levels experienced seizures that lasted up to half an hour, and roughly 10 percent of the mice died shortly afterward.

Essentially, a related Neuroscience report said that the A1 receptor leads to more severe seizures in neurabin-deficient mice and increases the mortality rate to over 50 percent.

The following steps comprise additional exploration of the ideal doses and the delivery times for specific conditions the peptide may be used for such a treatment.

The research team also continues to tweak the peptide to guarantee that it's functioning optimally, not to mention pursuing funding needed to continue clinical trials.

Related information about epilepsy and seizure disorders is shown on Medscape's YouTube video below:

Check out more news and information on Alzheimer's Disease in Science Times.